Which economic reason was used to justify the rapid expansion of European colonies throughout the world between the 17th and 19th centuries

The economic reason was that Europe and the United States of America had to drastically increase the amount of production adn reduce the labor costs. Both of which could be done by moving the industry and acquiring new territories where they would pay workers less.

By gaining control over as much land as possible, Europeans could establish cheap sources of raw materials for the production of finished goods